This remark came while Filipinos in many parts of the country remember their departed loved ones.

This was also a few months after his repeated controversial slurs against Catholic bishops and Christian teachings, and then issuing a public apology to the divine.

Santo Rodrigo

Malacañang initially released a statement of Duterte’s message to Filipinos for both All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

In it, he said that he was “with the Christian faithful” in the observance of these occasions and encouraged Filipinos to emulate the saints and honor the people who had already gone “in the grace of God.”

He then questioned the purpose of dedicating another day for the saints during his visit to victims of Typhoon Rosita in Cauayan, Isabela.

He first greeted the crowd with “Happy All Saints’ Day,” and then proceeded to his slurs against the long-held Filipino tradition.